Wal-Mart Launches New Plan to Make Healthier Foods More Affordable

When it comes to food my weekly shopping trips to the nation's largest grocer, Wal-Mart,  I am usually always going to grab the "Great Value" product of an item if it's offered, rather than the name brand item.  I have learned over the years that just because it's the "off brand" doesn't mean it's not just as good a quality of the name brand stuff.  If I get home and notice a SIGNIFICANT difference between the two brands of the same item, I'll just make not of that item in my head, & remind myself not to purchase the off brand again.  But more times than not, I have discovered that I like the Great Value brand better than the regular brand!!  Their cinnamon rolls would be the perfect example!

{photo courtesy of Mobile Grocery Stockers}

vs.  

{photo courtesy of Saving on the Essentials}

So, yes...I am a "cheap" shopper, and I'm okay with that!  But sometimes I wish I wasn't because there are so many healthier brands of items that I WANT to buy because they are simply healthier, or at least their label says so...but I don't.  Why don't I?  Because their usually more expensive, and who wants to pay twice as much for an item when I can get the Great Value brand for much less?!

I'm afraid I'm not the only one in this situation.  It shouldn't have to be this way and people shouldn't have to choose between lower costs, or healthier foods for their families.  I'd have to guess that most people are choosing cheaper prices, rather than healthier items.  Wal-Mart doesn't want it to be this way any longer, and on January 20, 2011 they unveiled that they are going to put forth the effort to provide healthier foods at more affordable costs for their valued customers (Wal Mart Stores, paragraph 1). 

   {photo courtesy of Scrape TV}

I heard this on the news the day it was announced, and was rather glad to hear it!  With a 17 month old who is creating his own eating habits today that he will more than likely have for the rest of his life, I want him to be on the right track eating the right things starting from the very beginning of his life.  With Wal-Mart making this change and providing healthier items at their Great Value prices, will give me this opportunity.  I still do what I can to feed him the right things, but my grocery bill shouldn't have to double to do so!  

Bill Simon, president & CEO of Wal-Mart U.S. states that, "No family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them & food they can afford" (Wal Mart Stores, paragraph 2).  He is absolutely right and said exactly what I've been saying all along.  I know I'm not the only one in America that shops for the better deal rather than the healthiest item, so this will definitely help millions of people around the United States, and hopefully around the world.  

{photo courtesy of Health & Wellness Blog}

Wal-Mart's main idea of creating healthier products, includes reducing the consumption amount of sodium, sugar and trans-fat among Wal-Mart customers.  These three items are major contributors to the growing problem of obesity and other chronic diseases in America today, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes (Wal Mart Stores, paragraph 2).  

All I know about these three items is not that they're bad for you, but they are not good for you when consumed in such LARGE amounts. This is where America has gone wrong...we consume way, way WAY too much, which eventually causes problems within our bodies, which leads to health issues and then sometimes leads to an early death.  If people would start life out by eating healthy and treating their bodies right, they wouldn't have to work extra hard later on in life, having to deal with so many different health issues and trying to fix what they didn't do right early on in their lives.

This is where the parents come in.  As a parent, it is our job to teach our kids how to eat right.  You may not have grown up learning how to eat right, but don't you want your child to?  I know I do, and this is a simple way to start....today!   

Thank you Wal-Mart for taking the effort to make this HUGE change for the betterment of your customers!